Safety gas-control system



May 29, 1923.

C. SCHUCK, JR, ET AL SAFETY GAS CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 13, 1922 INVENTORS ATTORNEY v valve in the pilot by-pass.

Patented May 29, 1923.

CONRAD SCHUCK, JR., AND GEORGE LAYER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

serum! GAS-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Application filed May 13,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CONRAD SonUoK, J r., and Gnoncn LAYER, citizens of the United States, and residents of East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey (whose post-office addresses are, respectively, 27 Cleveland Terrace and -49 Gerard Ave, East Orange), have invented celtain new and useful Improvements in Safety Gas- Control Systems; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art .to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the flow of gas to burners in gas heaters and the like and has for its object the provision of a safety method and means for supplying gas to the main burners only when the pilot light is fully operating, thus eliminating the explosion danger due to escaped unignited gas.

To this end a thermally actuated main valve is provided for controlling the supply of gas to the burners and the opening and closing of this valve is in turn controlled by the pilot flame which may be fed in the usual manner through a by-pass. The amount of the gas flowing to the .pilot flame and with it the length of the pilot flame, may be regulated by any desired means, for example, by an auxiliary supplyof gas or an adjustable In order that the main valve may be controlled, the pilot is s0 placed that its flame when of normal length will not impinge on the thermal element of the main valve and when of in in case of excessive heating,

creased length, due to a greater supply of' gas, will impinge on the thermal element and thus operate the main valve. In this way the main valve is opened by a relay action which depends upon the proper functioning of the pilot flame and is maintained closed as long as the pilot flame is extinguished. The thermally actuated valve may be so arranged that it is held open only while the pilot flame acts on the thermal element and isautomaticall closed as soon as the pilot flame is reduced In order to positively shut off the gas supply, which would be desirable a nbrmally open thermally actuated valve may be located in the gas main before the burner so that excessive temperature of the heated substance will operate the thermal element to close the 1922. Serial No. 560,546.

valve and cut off the gas supply until the temperature drops to normal.

In gas heating systems which the proposed system is designed. to replace, the flow of gas is controlled either by the direct action of the fuel valve, or thermostats in the heating system or by action of water pressure on the fuel valve. In these systems there is great danger from escaped gas in case the pilot flame is extinguished or rendered inoperative as the main valve will continue the supply of gas to the burners regardless of whether the pilot is lighted or not. In a few systems, an auxiliary valve is placed in the gas line, which is maintained open thermally by the pilot flame as long as the pilot flame is burning. These latter systems, however, are not positive in their action as the other valves which control the. gas supply would continue to operate if this thermally operated valve were either stuck or' maintained open although the pilot flame were extinguished; a condition altogether possible. By means of the present invention, this dangear is entirely eliminated as the gas cannot supplied unless the pilot light is burning and completely operative. In order to provide for emergencies wherein the gas valve should stick open, it is desirable to place an auxiliary valve in the supply line whichis normally open but which :may be closed by the thermal action of a thermostatic member placed in the heated medium. This auxil-' iary valve, however, would have no function I in opening the main valve and'would operate only in case of emergency to shutoff the gas supply.

An advantageous embodiment of this invention is its application to a constant-temperature water storage system. In this system, a thermostatic valve placed in the pilot gas line and mounted on the water tank operates to supply more gas' to the pilot light when the water temperature falls below a predetermined value. The augmented flame of the pilot acts on a thermal element of a thermostatic valve placed in the burner supply pipe causing it to open and admit gas to the burners. These burners serve to heat the storage water until the desired maximum heated, it causes the gas valve to close and. The application of this invention to a conshut ofi the burner gas supply. In order to stant temperature stora e water system of insure a rapid lighting and extinguishing of the burners a quick-acting or snap valve is recommended. This valve may consist of a quick-acting mechanism (which is described hereinafter) operated by the movement of a thermostatic element which is connectedthereto by a"' link or links. it is especially desirable in an automatic. system of thiskind that a positive shut-ofl valve as previously described, be incorporated.

The various features of the invention will appear more clearly from the embodiments systems appear.

thereof as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein simplified diagrams of several In the drawing:v Fig. 1 shows the schematic arrangement of the invention adapted to an instantaneous water heating system of the faucet control t ei g. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a constant temperature storage water system utilizing thermostatic control valve in the pilot supply pipe;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the quickacting valve; and

Fig. & shows a view of the quick-acting mechanism taken on section H of Fig. 3. Referring now to Fig. 1, a thermostatic valve 1 is placed in the burner gas line 2 so that its thermal element 7 is removed from the intense heat of the burners 3, but is sub ject to the flame, when extended, of a pilot i. Water is supplied to the coils 21 by the pipe 22. When no water is being drawn through the heater coils 21 and the delivery pipe 8, the pilot light a burns, due to a small amount of gas received through a by-pass 6, with a short flame 5 so that the flameis not near the thermostatic member 7 When faucet 23 is turned on and water flows through pipe 8, the valve 9 operates to open the pilot gas supply valve 10, and the pilot flame extends to the thermostatic member due to the increased supply of gas. The thermal element within the member 7, then operates to open the main gas valve 1 supplying the burners 3 with gas as long as the thermal element is exposed to the pilot flame. When the water is turned off the valve 9 closes, the pilot flame is reduced to 5 and the thermostatic element, bycooling, efiects the closure of valve 1, thus cutting off the supply of :gas to the burners.

To insure against overheating the valve 24 is placed in the main gas line 2 and operated thermally by the member 25 which is placed in the :water delivery pipe 8. Should the valve 1 become stuck open when the faucet 23 is closed and the ilot 4 is therefore out, the temperature of t e water might rise'to a dangerous value were it not for the valve 24: which automatically shuts ofi the gas when the water temperature is excessive.

9, and the emergency valve 24 of the instantaneous heating system. The-operation of this system is as follows: When the temperature of the water in the tank 12 falls below a predetermined value, the thermostatic valve 11 opens the pilot gas supply valve 10, supplying gas .to the. pilot flame 4:,

which operates, as previously explained, to open valvel- ,When the temperature of the water in tank 12 is excessive th'avalve 11 cuts off the gas supply to the pilot flame, which causes the gas valve 1 to close and extinguish the burners. Should any part of the pilot control system fail to function when the temperature of the water reaches its desired maximum temperature, the valve 2 1 will antomatically shut off the gas supply before coriditions become dangerous. "Water is supplied through a pipe 22 to the coils 21, from which it flows to the heater tank 12. A. circulation is obtained through pipe 35 and check valve 36 which permits water to flow from the tank through the coils.

A quick acting valve may be used at 2, and is recommended with these systems to prevent back firing dueto delayed ignition of the burners. This valve is preferably of the disc and 'seat type operated through links and springs by a thermal element as explained in the next paragraph.

A preferred embodiment of the thermostatic quick-acting or snap valve, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, consists of a casing 30 having inlet and outlet gas connections 31 and 32 and an extended chamber 7 which contains the thermal element 13. The thermal element has one end rigidly mounted in the chamber 7 and the other end movable and connected by adjustable links 29 to one end of a lever 14 which is pivoted about a center 15. Springs 16 are attached to the other end of this lever and also to the valve arm 17 which lifts the valve 18 from its seat 33, rotating freely about a center 27 on position 19 to a position 20, thus moving means of the threaded link '29 which. is

the lever 1 so that the springs 16 cause the valve 18 to suddenly fully open. The mechanism may be so adjusted that the valve must be either completely opened or completely closed, no intermediate position being possible.

The foregoing are offered as showing preferred embodiments, but it is not the intent that these are to limit the spirit or scope of this invention or determine the arrangement or proportion of the parts.

e claim:

1. In a safety gas supply system for burners and the like, the method of indirectly controlling the supply of gas to a thermostatic valve controlled main burner which comprises continuously maintaining anon-impinging pilot flame adjacent to the thermally actuated valve and increasing the length of said flame to impinge upon said valve when it is desired to ignite the main burner, opened and gas is supplied to the burner as long as the flame impinges on said valve.

2. In a safety gas supply and igniting system for burners and the like, the method of indirectly controlling the supply of gas to a thermostatic valve controlled main burner which comprises continuously maintaining a non-impinging pilot flame adjacent to the thermally actuated valve, in-

creasing the length of said flame to impinge upon said valve when it is desired to ignite the main burner, whereby the valve is opened and gas is supplied to the burner, and automatically cutting off the main gas supply when the temperature of the substance to be heated becomes excessive.

3. In an indirectly controlled safety gas 7 supply and igniting system for burners and the like the combination with a burnerand a source of gas supply therefor, of a thermally actuated valve controllingthe supply of gas to the burner, a continuously burning pilot flame adjacent to said valve but not impinging thereon, means for increasing the supply of gas to said pilot to lengthen the flame thereof, to impinge on said thermally actuated valve when it is desired to ignite the -main burner, whereby the valve is opened and gas is burner as long as said flame impinges on said valve.

4. In a safety heating system, the combination with a heating receptacle, a gas burner or burners to heat the contents of said receptacle and a source of gas supply therefor, of a thermally actuated valve controlling the supply of gas to the burner, a continuously burning pilot flame adjacent to said valve but not impinging thereon and means for increasing the supply of gas to the pilot to lengthen the flame thereof, to impinge upon said valve when it is desired to ignite the main burner, whereby the valve is opened and gas is supplied to the burner as long as the flame impinges on said valve.

drawings and description and igniting whereby the valve is supplied to the main 5. In a safety heating system, in combination with a heating receptacle, :1 gas burner or burners, to heat the contents of said receptacle and a source of gas supply therefor, of a thermally actuated valve controllingv the supply of gas to the burner, a continuously burning valve, but not m'ipinging thereon, means for increasing the supply of gas to the pilot to lengthen the flame thereof to impinge upon said valve when itis desired to ignite the main burner whereby the valve is opened and gas is supplied to the burner and means for cutting off the main gas supply when the temperature of the contents of said receptacle becomes excessive.

6. In anindirectly controlled safety gas supply and igniting system for burners and the like, the combination with a burner and a source of gas supply therefor, of a thermally actuated valve controlling the supply of gas to the burner, a continuously burning pilot flame adjacent impinging thereon, means for increasing the supply of gas to said pilot to lengthen the flame'thereof, to impinge on said thermally actuated valve when it is desired to ignite the main burner, whereby the valve is opened. and gas is supplied to the main burner, and means for decreasingthe supply of gas to said pilot to shorten the flame thereof so that it does not impinge upon said thermally actuated valve, whereby the valve is closed and thegas supply to'the main burner is cut off.

7. In a safety heating system, the com-- bination With a, heating receptacle, a gas burner or burners to heat the contents of said receptacle and a gassupply ,therefor, of a thermally actuated valve adapted to control the gas supply to said burners, a continuously burning pilot flame adjacent to said valve but not impinging thereon, means pilot flame adjacent to said to said valve but not for supplying a constant amount of gas to said pilot and means for increasing the supply of gas to said pilot to lengthen the flame thereof to impinge on said thermally actuated valve when it is desired to ignite the main burner, whereby the valve is opened and gas is supplied to the main burner as long as the flame impinges on said valve.

8. In a safety heating system in combination with a heating receptacle, a gas burner or burners to heat the contents of said receptacle and a gas supply therefor, of a thermally actuated valve adapted to control the gas supply to said burners, a continuously burning pilot flame adjacent to said valve but not impinging thereon, an emergency thermally actuated valve in said main gas supply pipe adapted to shut ofl the supply of gas when the temperature of the heated substance becomes excessive, means for supplying constant amount of gas to said pilot and means for increasing the supply of gas to said pilot to len thereof to impinge on said-F hermally sew-1m system the combination' with aWfiteri? the supply of gas to a main -'said burner,

hen. the. flame ated valve when it is desired to ignite the main burner, whereby the valve is opened and gas is supplied to the main burner.

9. In a constant temperature safety water heating system, the method ofmaintaining storage water at a constant temperature which comprises automatically controlling burner by continuously maintaining a non impinging pilot flame adjacent to a thermally actuated valve and automatically increasing the length of said flame to impin e upon-said valve when the temperature 0% the storage water falls below a predetermined value, whereby the valve is opened and as is supplied to the burner as long as sai flame'impinges on said valve.

10. In a constant temperature safety water heatin system, means for 'automatically maintaining storage vwater at a constant temperature, comprising the combination with a water storage tank, a water 1 heating receptacle, inlet and outlet water connections to said tank and said receptacle, a gas burner and gas supply therefor, of a thermally actuated main valve in the burner supply pipe to control the supply of gas to a continuously burning pilot flame adjacent to said main valve but not impinging thereon, a second thermostatic valve'in said pilot supply pipe and mounted in said water storage tank for automatically increasing the supply of gas to said pilot to lengthen the flame thereof so as to impinge upon said thermally actuated main valve when the temperature of the storage water falls below a predetermined value, whereby the main valve is opened and gas is supplied to the'niain burner as long as said flame impinges on said thermally actuated main valve.

flame impinges on said thermally valve, and means for automatically decreasamar I 11 In a constant temperaturawatei" heat:

storage tank, a water heating receptacle,-"inlet and outlet water connections with said tank and said receptacle,-gas burners and gas supply therefor, of a thermostatic valve in said burner supply pipe to control the gas supply to said burners, a continuously burnmg pilot flame adjacent to said valve but not impinging thereon, means for automatical y increasing the su ply of gas to said pilot to lengthen the ame thereof so as to impinge upon said thermally actuated valve when'the temperature of the storage water falls below a predetermined value, whereby the valve is opened and'gas is supplied to the main burner as long as and actuated ing the supply of gas to said pilot to shorten the flame thereof so it will not impinge-on said thermally actuated valve when the tempera tiireof the storage water rises above a-predetermmed value, whereby the valve is is cut off.

A quick-acting valve, comprising a caslng provided with inlet and outlet gas closed andthe gas supply to the main burner connections, a movable thermostatic member arranged within said casing, a valve and valve 'seat' interposed between said inlet and outlet gas connections, means for guiding the motion of said valve, to said valve, a lever attached to said springs and pivoted on said casing, a link joining springs attached said lever and said thermostatic member so that a slight movement of said thermostatic member will cause said valve ,to suddenly fully open or close.

In testimony whereof we afix our signatures.

CONRAD SCHUCK, JR. GEORGE LAYER. 

